Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Experiencing Chronic Back Pain?

If you’re a woman who’s been experiencing pelvic pain for several months and a Pap smear has ruled out the possibility of cancer, you could be experiencing a very common condition called chronic pelvic congestion. In this condition, tiny varicose veins develop inside the pelvis, often near the ovaries. Just as those pesky varicose veins in your legs can cause pain and discomfort, when veins in the pelvis begin to malfunction, usually due to age, weight gain, or pregnancy, they can also cause sensations of aching and pain.

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome is Common Among Women

About one out of every three women will develop pelvic congestion syndrome during their lives, but because the vessels that are affected are located inside the body, sometimes the diagnosis can be missed. Women who suffer from the condition may also have varicose veins in the buttock, thigh or vaginal areas, and they may also find their pain increases when sitting or standing. Once diagnosis is made, treatment of chronic pelvic congestion involves a relatively simple and straightforward noninvasive procedure that can be performed without surgery by using a vein catheter.

Getting it Properly Diagnosed is Important

To diagnose the presence of pelvic congestion, veins are catheterized and a dye is injected to allow the physician to see if the veins are varicose. This procedure is called a venogram. If varicose veins are present, the vessels will be closed off using tiny coils, plugs or other agents to block the flow of blood. Before you undergo the procedure, your doctor will provide intravenous sedation as well as local anesthesia to keep you comfortable.

A Majority of Women Who Have Treatment Get Pain Relief

After your procedure, you may experience discomfort for two or three days as your blood vessels heal. During that time, your doctor will prescribe pain medication or you may find relief from over-the-counter pain medications. Once healing is complete, about 80% of women who undergo the procedure report total (or nearly total) relief from their pelvic pain.

Our practice offers patients non-surgical alternatives to treat many conditions such as spinal compression fractures, symptomatic uterine fibroids, chronic pelvic pain from incompetent abdominal/pelvic veins, and narowed or blocked arteries causing lifestyle limiting claudication and/or chronic wounds. The minimally invasive techniques we use offer similar or better outcomes to surgery with a much shorter and less painful recovery. One or our skilled physicians will perform an in-depth consultation with you to decide on the best management in order to meet your needs.